Sizing and finishing machine



Nov. 9, 1943. w. G. MALONEY ETAL 2,333,872

SIZING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 9, 1943. w. G. MALQNr-:Y ETAL 2,333,872

SIZING AND F INISHING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 SIZIN G AND FINISHINGfMACHINE yWilliam G. Maloney and Neil E. Boyer, Mexico,k

Mo., assignors to A. P. Green Fire Brick Company, Mexico, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application Match 17, 1941, serial No. 383,696

1a claims. '(01. ,z5-,4104i Our invention relates to sizing and nishing machines and, more particularly, to machines for sizing and ilnishing clay brick or tile.

In manufacturing a brick or tile by means of the well known stiff mud process in which process an endless column of clay is extruded through a die, the individual bricks or tile are formed by cutting transversely across this clay column at intervals with suitable wires, such as piano wires. These cut clay brick or tile are known to the trade as wire cut brick. While the column of clay extruded from the die is generally smooth and even, the ends of the brick or tile which are cut from the clay column by the Wires are ragged and uneven. After the bricks are cut, they are run through presses to square the blanks. The pressing operation, of course, generally smooths the ragged ends where the column has been cut by the wires.

However, in certain types of wire cut brick or tile which cannot be easily pressed, the ends are nowleft rough and uneven or they are somewhat smoothed by a hand trowel. Obviously, this hand method of smoothing the ends is time consuming, costly and generally unsatisfactory.

Our invention has for its principal object a machine for smoothing and sizing clay brick or tile or other objects and especially wire cu brickswhich cannot be easily pressed; which will quickly, efliciently and effectively size and smooth a' brick or tile blank. A further object isV to devise a machine which is of simple yet durable construction and which may be easily and quickly adjusted for brick or objects of varying sizes.

The invention consists principally in providing a sizing and finishing machine having two adjustable spaced rotary disks and a movable carriage whereon a brick or tile blank may be placed, providing guides for moving the carriage with the brick thereonbetween the rotating disks Whereby the end of the brick or object is smoothedand finished. Ourl invention further consists in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter `described and claimed.v

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is an end view of a sizing and finishing machine embodying our invention,r

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine,

Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

I Our machine cuty brick or tile comprises a suitable supporting `for sizing and nishing wire lili` framework that includes a table I having legs 2 at the corners thereof anda shelf or lower table 3 secured to the legs. I

Mountedon the table vI and extending trans'-` versely across the middle .portion thereof are channel-shaped guides 4 which are positioned sideways-and are supportedv above the table by legs 5 secured to the ends of the guides. Mounted in the guides andadapted to move therealong is a movable carriage or table 6 having rollers 'l securedto the sides thereof, said rollers 'l being placed in the channel-shaped guides 4 and rolling therein. `Resting on the carriage and secured thereto by screws 'Ia is a pallet or tray 8 preferably made of wood or other suitable material for holdinga brick or tile 8a to -be sized or finished. An endwall 9 secured to-the outer end of the tray 8 is provided as a rest for the tile or brick. Said carriage is provided with a .suitable handle I0 for manually moving the carriage and tray carried thereby transversely across `the middle portion of the table in the guides 4. However, anyA suitable automatic means for moving the carriage and tray resting thereon may be provided. I

`Mounted on the 'ends o f said table I and secured thereto are opposed stationary brackets or pedes-` Opposed rotatable disks Il fixed on drive shaft-s I8 are provided, each drive shaft being journaled in suitable bearings in one of the pedestalsi II andthe adjacentfollower `i 5. These drive shafts extendoutwardly from said pedestals ,I I and are so mounted that they may slide endwise in respect to said pedestals. Mounted. on the ends of the drive shafts and having their hubs abutting against the pedestals are pulleys. I9, preferably having a V-shaped groove 2li.Y The shafts have longitudinal i grooves ZI therein and the pulleys have internal grooves` therein for receiving keys 22- adapted to make said pulleys rigid with saidk shafts. These keys are mounted rigid with the pulley. but are slidable in the shaft grooves 2|.`

Said keys22 extend through said pedestalsr II and terminate in projecting lugs 23 which abut against the inner faces of saidl pedestals to prepedestal to prevent said adjusting rod from being rotated.V The adjusting rod has twothreaded portions 2t, each being adjacent to the followers l5 and each being threaded in an opposite direction to the other. Mounted on each threaded assa'sva and a smoothing face, means for adjusting the space between said disks, a movable carriage, guides for said carriage extending between said disks, and means for rotating said disks.

5. A sizing and nishing machine for articles of uniired clay and the like comprising spaced rotatable disks each having a cutting edge and a smoothing face and having drive shafts, a movable support anda static naryv support-for each of said shafts, said shafts being ljournaled in said supports, means for rotating said drive shafts and carriage movable between said disks.

followers are internally threaded feed nuts 29,

each being threaded in an opposite direction to the other. When the adjusting rod 24 is rotated bythe wheel 2,5, the followers are forced inwardly or outwardly on the guide rods l2 depending on whether the adjusting rod is rotated' clockwise or counter-clockwise. Belts aremounted in the pulley grooves 20 and adapted to drive, the disk shafts I8 and mounted in pulleys 3l xed on the counter-shaft 32. This counter-shaft isjournaled in pedestals 33 secured ,to the/shelf 3. A three-step pulley 3Ll isxed on the counter-shaft 32 and is connected with a pulley 36 rigidwith the main shaft'l of a motor 38 by a belt 35. This motor may be of any type but is preferably an electric motor.

. In theoperation Yof the .hereinbefore described.y

device, the distance between the rotating disks I'i is adjusted by means of the .wheel 26 rotating the adjusting rod 2d. The motor'38 rotates the rotary disks and the sizing and finishing machine is ready to sizey and nish'abrick, tile or other object. Abrick, tile or other object, is placed on the pallet 8 atthe edge of the table and the carriage 6 withthe pallet mounted thereon is pushed between the rotating disks. The disks are set so that they arel spaced about the proper lengthof abrick or other object. When the brick passes betwen the disks, the excess material is cut off and the ends are smoothed by the rotation of the disks.-

Obviously, objec ts other than bricks may ibe sized and finishedin .our machine and' also numerous` modifications of the machine may be made. Consequently, we do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What we claim is:

1. A sizing and finishing machinefor articles of unred clay andthe like comprising spaced rotatable disks each having a cutting edge and a smoothing face and a carriage movable between said disks.

2.- A sizing and finishing machine for articles of uniired clay and the like comprising opposed spaced rotatable disks each having a cutting edge and a smoothing face, a movable carriage, guides for said carriage extending between said disks;

spaced rotatable disks each having a cutting edge.'

6.'A 'sizing 'and finishing machine for articles `ofunlired clayand the like comprising spaced Y'smo'otlfiing face andhaving drive shafts, a movable support and a stationary support for each of said shafts, said shafts being journaled in said supports, means for moving said movable supports vthereby adjusting the space between said disks, meansfor rotating said drive shaftsfa'nd acarriage movable between said disks.

7. A sizing andnishing machine for'articles of uniired clayand the like comprising'opposed spaced rotatable disks each having a cuttingvedge and a smoothing fa'ce and having drive'shafts,--a movable support and Va stationary support for each ofsaid shafts, said shafts being journaled in said supportsymeans for moving said-movable supports thereby adjusting the space between-said disks, means for rotating saiddrive shafts'and a carriage movable between `said disks, said carriage being movably mounted in guides extending between said disks and transversely of said drive shafts.

8. A brick blank sizing'and finishing machine comprising spaced parallel rotatable disks, each of said disks having a cutting edge anda-smoothing face and a drive shaft, said drive shafts being axially alined, a movable support and a stationary support for each of saiddriveshafts'said shafts being journaled in said supports, guides for said movable supports, means for moving said movable supports thereby adjusting thespace between said disks, means for rotating saiddrive shafts, and a carriage movable between said rotatable disks.

.9. A brick blank sizing and finishing machine comprising opposed spaced rotatable disks, each of saiddisks having a cutting edge and a smoothing face and a drive shaft, a movablejsupport and a stationary support for each of said vdrive shafts, said shafts' being journaled in said supports, guides for said movable supports, means for moving said movable supports thereby adjusting the space betweenv said disks, means for rotating said drive shafts, a carriage movable between s aidrotatable disks, said carriage being movable in guidesl extending between said disks and transversely of said drive shafts. Y y

l 1Q, A 'brick blanksizing andnishing machine comprising opposed spacedrotatable disks, each of said disks having a cutting edge and a smoothing face and a drive shaft, a'movable supportand a stationary support for eachof saidfdrive shafts, said shafts being journaled in said supports, guides for said movable supports, an adjusting rod `for moving said movable members andgthereby adjusting the space between said disks, means for rotating saiddrive shafts, a carriagemovable between said rotatable disks-said -carriage movable in guides extending'between` vsaid disksiand transversely of said drive shafts.

, '11.: A brick vsizing andfinishingm'achin'e 'c'o'mpris'ing a table',` parallely opposed spaced 'rotatable cutting and smoothing disks movable longitudinally of said table, each of said disks having a drive shaft mounted in a pedestal member secured to said table and in an inner movable member, said drive shafts being axially alined, guide rods connecting said stationary pedestal members, said movable members being movably mounted on said guide rods, an adjusting rod extending parallel to said guide rods, said adjusting rod extending through oppositely threaded openings provided therefor in said` movable members, said adjusting rod having oppositely threaded portions adjacent to said movable members whereby said movable members may be moved longitudinally when said adjusting rod is rotated to change the space between said disks, means for rotating said adjusting rod, laterally open channel-shaped guides extending transversely across said table between said disks, a movable carriage having rollers mounted in said guides and movable therein, said carriage adapted to move between said disks, and means for rotating said drive shafts.

said movable members whereby said movable members may be moved longitudinally when said adjusting rod is rotated and the space between mounted in said guides and movable therein,y said' carriage adapted to movev between said disks,v and means for rotating said drive shafts. n

13. A brick sizing and finishing machine com Y prising a table, opposed spaced rotatable cutting and smoothing disks movable longitudinally of l2. A brick sizing and finishing machine comprising a table, parallel opposed spaced rotatable cutting and smoothing disks movable longitudinally of saidy table, each of said disks having guide rods, an adjusting rod extending parallel to said guide rods and extending through oppositely threaded openings in said movable members, said adjusting rod having oppositely threaded portions adjacent to said threaded portions in said table, each of said disks having a driveshaft mounted in a stationary pedestal member secured l to the end of said table and in an inner movable member, guide rods connecting said pedestal members, said movable members being movably mounted on said guide rods, an adjusting rod ex-` l; tending parallel to said guide rods and extendingf. through openings in said movable members, oppositely threaded feed nuts in said'openings,' ysaid i adjusting rods having oppositely threadedpoi- 4 a tions adjacent to said movable members whereby .v said movable members maybe moved longitu-Y dinally when said adjusting rod is rotated to alter the space between said disks, means for rotating f said adjusting rod, laterally open channel-shaped guides extending transversely across thecentralr .l f

portion of said table between said disks, a movable carriage having rollers mounted in said guides and movable therein, said carriage adapted to move between said disks, and means for I:

rotating saidv drive shafts. l

f WILLIAM G. MALONEY.

NE1L E. BOYER. 

